Privacy Notice for Investigations

Privacy and Data Policy

  1. The USPCA makes a commitment to protecting your privacy and promises only to use information collected about you in accordance with our Privacy Policy set out below.
  2. The USPCA is registered with the Information Commissioner in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
  3. The USPCA recognises that information security is a key element of data protection and takes appropriate measures to secure personal data (both electronic and manual) and protect it from loss or unauthorised disclosure or damage.
  4. The USPCA is the data controller of the personal data we process and therefore is responsible for ensuring our systems, processes, suppliers and staff comply with data protection laws in relation to the information we handle. 

How we use information/legal bases for processing

We collect and process personal data in relation to subjects under investigation for alleged animal cruelty. Such personal data will only be processed where one of the following conditions is met:

  • the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest
  • the processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests of the USPCA (which are the prevention of cruelty to animals and the relief of suffering in animals and the effective running of the USPCA);
  • the processing is necessary for compliance with any legal obligation to which the USPCA  is subject or;
  • the processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another person;

Whilst undertaking investigations for alleged animal cruelty we will collect a variety of personal data from a number of different sources.

The personal data will be used to assist the objectives of  the prevention of cruelty to animals and the pursuit of criminal convictions in relation to cruelty to animals.

Personal data may be shared with:

  •  the police or other public authority to support a criminal prosecution
  • with a media broadcaster or press to expose animal cruelty where it is deemed to be in the public interest
  • other organisations were required to comply with legal obligations

Personal data will be stored securely and will not be stored outside the EEA.

Your Rights

The Data Protection legislation gives you the right to access information held about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with the legislation.

You also have the following rights which can be exercised in accordance with the legislation: the right to:

  •  be informed
  • access your data
  • rectify any information you believe is incorrect
  • erase your data
  • restrict processing of your data
  • object to processing
  • withdraw consent if that is the basis of processing
  • complain to the Information Commissioners Office

Further information on these rights is available from the Information Commissioners website https://ico.org.uk/.

These rights may only be exercised in so far as the application of the rights is not likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime and/or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders.

Data Retention

The USPCA will retain information on individuals in compliance with statutory requirements or in line with organisational needs where there are no such statutory requirements. Retention time is 7 years.

Changes to our privacy policy

Any changes we may make to our privacy policy in the future will be notified to you.

Contact Us

Should you have any queries relating to our privacy policy or your data you can contact the Administration Manager by:

  • email to headoffice@uspca.co.uk
  • post at USPCA, Unit 6 Carnbane Industrial Estate, Newry BT35 6QH;
  • by telephoning 028 3025 1000.